~* Kunoichi Festival *~


"Ahh, It is so great to finally be a Chuunin Kunoichi!" Kohaku said as she stretched her arms up toward the sky.

"And what a beautiful day it is today!" She said as she put an arm in front of her forehead to block out the bright sun as she stared up at the clear blue sky. It was almost noon and Kohaku was walking through town to the market to pick up a few things for her mother. She put her hands back to her side and let them swing freely as she walked. She approached the market. She noticed that there were lots of people running around frantically as if they were preparing for something special. She ignored it and walked into the store. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the list her mother gave her.

"Lets see now, she needs some of this." She reached for a bottle of Ginger and some Cinnamon. "If Mama needs these things then she must be making some of her special deserts!" Kohaku smiled and licked her lips as she could see herself chowing down on some of her mothers famous Chocolate Cherry Cake.

"Mmm nothing like Mama' s Chocolate Cherry Cake with a big glass of milk."  "Hey Kohaku!" Someone yelled. Kohaku snapped out of her cake induced day dream and looked to her left towards the end of the aisle. "Hey Danya!" Kohaku yelled back waving. She ran to Danya and gave her a hug.

"Well fancy meeting you here Danya. How are you?" "I am great, just picking up a few things. You?" "I am good. Just running a few errands for my mother. I see you are junking out as usual." Kohaku commented as she looked into Danya' s basket to see it full of candy and junkfood. "Yeah well you know me. I love junkfood." "And yet you seem to stay so thin. How in the world do you do it?" Kohaku asked while poking her in the stomach a few times. "That is for me to know and for you to never find out." Danya said putting a finger to her lips. They both giggled and walked together down each aisle getting what they needed.  They both went to the counter and paid for their merchandise and walked out the door each with a brown bag full of groceries in hand.


~!~


As they walked down the street talking and giggling they both noticed all the shop keepers decorating their stores. Danya and Kohaku stopped in front of their favorite boutique, 'Chandras'. "Hey Kohaku look." Danya said pointing towards the entrance of the boutique. Kohaku looked at the viranda and noticed Kunai knifes tied with pink ribbons with two small bells painted to look like Sakura petals tied to them. The Kunai hung from long black threads that were tied to the wooden posts that were part of the frame of the viranda's. They both looked around and noticed Kunai hanging from every viranda of every shop.

"You know what this means don't cha?" Both Kohaku and Danya looked at eachother with excitement. "CHA! It is my favorite time of the year!" "It is time for the Kunoichi Festival!" They both said at the same time while jumping up and down paying no attention to the food that was flying from their bags. After a few frantic moments of cheering and dancing around the girls realized that half their groceries were now on the ground. "Opps, guess in all the excitement we forgot about our stuff." Kohaku commented as she bent down grabbing a piece of fruit. "Does this pack of Ramen belong to you Danya?" She said handing her a packet of Chicken flavoured Ramen. "Oh yeah that is my lunch actually." She said taking the package from Kohaku' s hand. They both screambled around picking up what was left and then starting back on the path home.

"Wow I cannot believe it is finally here! I have loved going to the Kunoichi Festival ever since I was a little girl." Kohaku said all starry eyed. "I know I have always loved the Kunoichi Festival. All the guys have to be super nice to us because it is OUR day!" Said Danya putting her fist to her chest. "That's right!" Kohaku said with a smile. "The food is also amazing at the festival too. My Mother is always in charge of the sweets and deserts." "Do you think she is going to make her famous Chocolate Cherry Cake this year?" Danya asked with hearts in her eyes. "As she does every year. Why do you think I got Cherries from the market?" Danya began to get excited. "I LOVE her special Chocolate Cherry Cake, it is delicious!" Danya said licking her lips. "Well be sure to save room because she is digging out her grandmothers old recipies this year." "Oooooo I can't wait!!" Danya said in an excited dancing frenzy.


~!~


"Well here we are." Danya said pulling out the keys to her apartment. "Thanks for walking home with me Kohaku. Want to come over later and grab a bite to eat? That way we can check out the preperations for the festival." "Sure I would love to." "Great I will see you around 4, how's that sound?" "Perfect I will be here." "Alright see ya then." Danya said goodbye and went inside her apratment closing the door behind her. Kohaku went down the flight of stairs that she came up and left the apartment complex heading back to the Shitsui Clan Shrine where she lived. She was at the Shrine Gate when she heard a familiar little voice calling for her.

"Sissy! Sissy wait up!" Kohaku put the brown bag against the fence and got down on her knees and opened her arms. A Little girl with pigtails just like Kohaku use to wear was running towards her. The girl ran into Kohaku' s arms hugging her. "Hey Mia. What in the world have you been up to?"  Sissy, I have missed you!" She said burying her head in Kohaku' s chest. Mia was now an academy student and was training to be a Kunoichi. "Sissy guess what!" "What?" "Iruka-sensei says that I am doing a great job in my classes." "Really well I am very proud of you Mia!"

Kohaku said rubbing the top of Mia' s head.  Mia smiled. She felt so proud that her hero was impressed with her. She has always wanted to be like Kohaku. Ever since the first day she met her. "I love your new hairdo Mia, it is a good look for you. I am sure you will carry my legacy well."

Kohaku said as she stood up. Mia' s face lit up and she ran at Kohaku again tackling her with a hug. They both laughed. "Wanna help me out Mia with these groceries?" She nodded as Kohaku handed her a few bags of fruit from her giant brown bag. Kohaku stood back up grabbing the bag and opening the gate. She and Mia walked up the long dirt path that was alined with beautiful Magnolia trees. They both reached the door and slipped off their sandals. Kohaku slid back the door.

"Mama I'm home!" She called out. Her mother stuck her head out of the kitchen doorway. "Welcome back hun, hello Mia." She said in a sweet and lovely voice while waving at them. Kohaku loved her mothers greetings. No matter how sour she felt her greetings always made her smile. They both hurried to the kitchen to take the food and stuffs to Kohaku' s mother. Kohaku put her bag down and looked down beside her and took the bags of fruit from Mia.

"Thank you dear for running that errand for me. I have alot of work to do to prepare for the festival." "No problem Mama. I would have been here earlier but I ran into Danya on the way home and I walked with her back to her apartment." "Did you now?"



~*~ Meanwhile in Sunagakure... ~*~


Tausha Matsumoto, one of Suna' s top Kunoichi' s made herself comfortable as she sat on the corner of the Kazegage' s desk. Swinging her legs back and forth watching the light reflect off her Sand village headband as her right leg shifted back and forth. She was a fair beauty. She had radiant brown hair that was tied in a ponytail at the top of her head. She wore a simple blue outfit that flatered her slim figure. The hood was cloaked with furry trim all around it.

"Tausha." Gaara spoke sturnlly. She looked up and turned her attention to the bushy red haired ninja. "Yes sir?" She said respectfully. He snapped his head up from his paperwork. "You know I told you to stop calling me 'sir' Tausha." "I know, I just like getting on your nerves." She said with a giggle. He smiled. "Well I want you to accompany me to Konohagakure." "O, what for?" "It is time for the Kunoichi Festival and I have been asked to be a judge in the contests that will be held at the festival." Tausha gigled. She couldn't exactly picture Gaara wearing a ribbon over his chest that had 'JUDGE' imprinted across it.

Gaara ignored her laughter. "So would you like to accompany me or not?" "Sure, I would love to go! We would get to see all our friends in Konoha again! I can also see my grandmother too!" Gaara stood and pushed his chair back and walked over to Tauhsa and stood in front of her.

"I wouldn't want to go to such a special event without a date. What kind of leader would I be if I showed up without my lover at my side?" Gaara said in a suggestive tone. He lifted his hand and ran it down her cheek. Tausha started to blush. "I don't know anyone else that I would rather have as my date....well that was corny."  She said with an embarrased smile. Gaara just stepped forward. "One of the many reasons I love you so much. He said planting a kiss on her lips. He pulled back and straightened up his cloak. He knew that the little fun office romance thing was not a proper display of office like manner.

"You had better start packing because the festival starts tomorrow afternoon." Gaara said while sitting back down and picking up his pen to sign off on a few security plans for the Sand village. "And be sure to bring your best Kimono along with you." "Yes 'sir' Mr. Kazekage." She said while jumping up off the desk and walking towards the door. She exited but stuck her head back in blowing a kiss to Gaara then running on home to pack her things for the big journey to Konoha to attend one of the cities biggest celebrations...The Kunoichi Festival!